Lost and Found

by B C Yancey

  Paul nodded and wiped the tears from Kitty's face with his stained shirt, "Yes, ma'am...thank you."

  Charlie patted his shoulder and caressed Kitty's cheek then squared her shoulders and marched out the house.

  Sawyer and Freddie were laughing with the men at the back of the barn, storing their gear and getting ready to come in for dinner, having just finished their day's work. Freddie was home to bury his parents and enjoy dinner before leaving the next day.

  Charlie ran to Sawyer and grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him to face her. "Gabe tried killin' 'em, Sawyer."

  The laughter faded from his eyes as he frowned, "He did what?"

  She shook him, her voice frantic and full of outrage, "He tried killing Paul and Kitty."

  Sawyer glanced at Freddie and then tossed his gloves on the workbench and ran. "Are they hurt? Where are they?"

  Charlie picked up her skirts and ran behind him. "They're in the kitchen, safe, but terrified."

  Freddie pulled Charlie to a stop just outside the house as Sawyer disappeared through the front door, "Are you alright?"

  "Of course I am," Charlie scowled, "I wasn't the one Gabe shot at, Freddie."

  Freddie pulled his hand away, "Sorry that I asked."

  She grabbed him and shook her head, "I shouldn't have snapped. It's just that man makes me so mad I could spit nails."

  Sawyer raced down the porch steps, two rifles in tow and tossed one to Freddie. "You'll ride with me?"

  Freddie nodded and flashed a smile at Charlie, following Sawyer back into the barn, "I'm surprised you even had to ask."

  They had their horses saddled in a matter of minutes and galloped out of the barn. Before Charlie could stop him, Paul handed Kitty to her and raced after the men.

  He ran up to his house just in time to see Sawyer and Freddie with rifles drawn and ready, in all their wondrous wrath as they stared his father down.

  "You threaten those children one more time, Gabe," Sawyer warned, "and I will kill you myself!"

  Gabe stood and wobbled drunkenly, aiming his shotgun at the men, "Who're you to come and threaten me? Eh, Sawyer? They're mine to do with as I see fit!" His eyes locked on a target in the road beyond Sawyer's shoulder, "And if I see fit to end their miserable, good for nothing existences," he cocked the hammer, "then so be it."

  Sawyer looked behind him curious what Gabe stared at with such an intense, hateful look, and found Paul standing in the road.

  Paul's eyes widened in terror when his father aimed right at him.

  Without a second thought, Sawyer knocked the shotgun out of Gabe's drunken grasp, making his shot go wild, blasting a peppered hole in the wall.

  At the same time, Freddie rammed the butt of his rifle into the man's stomach with enough force that two ribs broke just as Sawyer punched Gabe in the face knocking three teeth lose and doubling him over in unconsciousness.

  When the roar of the gun echoed in his ears, he fell to the ground, positive he'd just been shot dead.

  As the memory faded, Paul knew what Charlie was telling him.

  Ma couldn't be in better hands than if Pa was there himself.

  Chapter twenty-six

  Tortured screams rent the air as the wagon bearing Freddie and Sawyer drew up the path to the darkened house.

  "It's coming from the barn," Freddie whispered, bringing the wagon to a stop as Sawyer dropped down, rifle in hand.

  During the drive, Sawyer had told Freddie what he needed to know about Walker and his history with Lillian, positive that with a vengeful Freddie at his side, Walker wouldn't be able to escape.

  "You go around the back," Sawyer ordered, motioning Freddie forward, "but don't shoot unless you have a clear shot. I don't want Lily hit by accident."

  Freddie nodded and grabbed his rifle, running around back as quietly as he could.

  Sawyer raced to the barn as Lillian screamed from inside, "No!"

  Every part of him wanted to rush in and blow Walker to smithereens, but he didn't want to put Lillian in more danger or possibly get her killed in his haste to rescue her.

  Making his way into the barn, Sawyer swore under his breath when another of her screams pierced the darkness. Quickly, he made his way toward the sounds of hay rustling.

  As he drew near, Sawyer heard a man's gruff voice threaten, "Scream as loud as ya want...no one's comin' to yer rescue."

  Without hesitation, Sawyer stepped into the open stall just as Walker pushed his trousers down his hips. Rage, unlike any Sawyer had known before, exploded through his veins. With a feral roar, he plucked Walker off Lillian and threw him out of the stall.

  Walker's scream of surprise abruptly ended when he crashed into the wall and fell to the ground with a muffled groan.

  Barely sparing a glance at Freddie as he rushed into the stall to see to Lillian, Sawyer advanced on Walker and kicked his arms out from under him as he struggled to push himself to his hands and knees. "You should've stayed dead." There would be no mercy given. He would not offer Walker the chance to defend himself against the impending violent attack.

  "Freddie?" Lillian whimpered, fighting for consciousness.

  "You're gonna be alright, Lillian," Freddie soothed, pulling the pieces of her skirt together to cover her nakedness before untying the rope that bound Lillian to the stall.

  Relief poured through her battered and bruised body as tears of gratitude and residual pain cascaded down her cheeks when she saw Freddie's face suddenly appear before her. "Paul and Kitty-"

  "Shhh, they're safe and sound," he assured, wincing when he saw all the damage Walker had done to her.

  Behind them, Sawyer gripped his rifle tight in his fist and clubbed the butt of his gun against Walker's face as he snarled, "You dirty, thieving, piece of scum."

  "Sawyer's here," Freddie murmured with a smile, "he's just a little busy right now. He's attending to," Walker's shriek of torture pierced the air, "some business."

  Lillian's right eye was nearly swollen shut, but she forced it open as wide as she could. "Sawyer's here?" She searched through the opening of the stall, desperate to feast her eyes on him. Unable to see him in the dark shadows, she closed her eyes in peace. They'd saved her. Everything was going to be alright.

  Freddie quickly untied the rope and bandana, throwing them behind him as he knelt at Lillian's side and helped lower her arms. A strangled cry escaped her lips with the movement, seconds before she fell unconscious.

  "Lillian?" Freddie gasped. He placed a hand to her throat, trying to find a pulse and blew out a relieved breath when the steady thrum of life beat against his fingers.

  As the seconds ticked by and she didn't wake up, he gave her a gentle shake, but she didn't respond. Glancing over his shoulder at Sawyer continuing to deliver his vengeance upon Walker, Freddie withdrew his knife and sliced Lillian's wrists free of the material knotted securely around her skin, debating on what to do next.

  Should he take her to the house? Or, would it be better to leave her here until Sawyer could see to her himself? At least by keeping her out here, he knew she was safe. Making up his mind, he stood and grabbed up his rifle as he left the stall to see if Sawyer needed his help.

  Walker was just about unconscious when Sawyer jerked his head up by the hair, bashed his head into the wall, and slammed a knee into his abdomen before letting him fall to the ground in a heap.

  "GET UP," Sawyer yelled. When Walker refused to move, Sawyer grabbed Walker by his shirt and forced him to his feet, ripping his shirt in the process. "You dared to touch my wife!" He slammed his fist into Walkers face and broke his nose. "You threatened her."

  Sawyer threw Walker to the ground and kicked him in the gut so hard Walker flipped onto his back. "AND THEN," he fumed, delivering several crippling blows to Walker's exposed crotch, "YOU DARED TO TRY AND DEFILE HER...AGAIN."

  When finally Sawyer backed away, chest heaving, Walker cupped his hands around his abused groin in protection and curled into a ball. He spit out a mouthful of teeth and blo
od before weakly grunting, "She was the tastiest peach-"

  With a furious shout, Sawyer bashed the butt of his rifle against Walker's jaw, grunting in satisfaction when several more teeth fell free. When Walker coughed and tried to speak again, Sawyer hauled back his gun for another strike.

  Walker raised his arm in a pathetic attempt to protect his head and screamed when the force of the blow broke his wrist.

  Sawyer crouched next to Walker's unrecognizable face and flung his last threat to Lillian back in his face, "Scream as loud as ya want...no one's comin' to yer rescue."

  Walker curled on the ground, clutching his broken wrist to his chest as he writhed in pain. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Walker's lips twisted in a sneer, "Did she tell ya about the times I had her?" The slurred words struggled their way out of his damaged mouth, "What I did to her?" He forced his lips into a bloody smile. "I made her scream-"

  Sawyer shot him right between the eyes before he was able to finish speaking, then reloaded and shot the man's corpse until he'd spent every bullet from his rifle.

  Before the echo of the last shot faded, Freddie handed Sawyer his repeating rifle and nodded in satisfaction when Sawyer proceeded to empty all of those bullets into Walker as well.

  Shaking with residual fury, Sawyer handed the spent rifle to Freddie, retrieved his revolver from the holster at his hip, and shot all six rounds into Walker's body, continuing to pull the trigger even after the last bullet left the chamber.

  Lowering the gun, he took a calming breath before holstering the weapon. The acrid stench of gunpowder filled the air, burning Sawyer's nose and stinging his eyes.

  "If you hadn't done that, I would have," Freddie said, resting his rifle across both shoulders behind his neck.

  Sawyer turned, "I only wish I'd found him soo-" He met Freddie's gaze in alarm, "Lillian?" How had he not thought of her until now? Sawyer pushed past him and ran back into the stall where she lay. He sank to his knees beside her and groaned. What kind of husband was he to leave her alone and injured at such a time as this?

  "She's alive," Freddie rushed to explain, "she passed out a few minutes ago."

  Bruises and a nasty cut marred her cheek; she had an angry-looking black eye and split lip, and there were several raw scrapes along her neck and hands.

  After Sawyer checked the rest of her body for unseen wounds, he wanted to kill Walker all over again. If he hadn't run out of bullets, he would have gone and emptied more into the man's already pulverized body.

  But, she was alive. He had to keep repeating the words. Caressing her cheek, Sawyer willed her to open her eyes and look at him—to smile at him and tell him she forgave him for not being here sooner.

  As though she could hear his silent plea, Lillian's lashes fluttered against her cheeks. Her left eye opened, but her right eye was completely swollen shut.

  Leaning down, Sawyer cradled her cheeks and scattered kisses across her battered face. Emotion thickened his voice as he murmured, "Lillian...darlin'..."

  She caressed his face and sighed, "Sawyer, is it really you?"

  "It's me, honey," he smiled, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

  Lillian smoothed a hand over his worried brow. "I'm so sorry," she whispered brokenly, "this was my fault."

  Sawyer gathered her into his arms and cradled her against his chest, "Hush, now. Let's not talk about it just yet... I need to hold you for a bit." He kissed her nose, cheek, and forehead as she sighed and wrapped an arm around his waist.

  Suddenly, she pulled away, "The children!"

  "They're safe," He assured her and offered a shaky smile. "I've never been so scared in my life as I was tonight. When I heard you scream, I thought we were too late...I don't ever want to go through that again." Pressing a gentle kiss to her lips, he pulled away when she grimaced against his mouth. "I'm sorry, darlin', I didn't mean to hurt you."

  "It's alright," she whispered, wincing when she smiled and split her lip open.

  He clucked his tongue and cradled her in his arms as he stood, "We need to have Doc bandage you up." Adjusting her in his grip, he met Freddie's gaze, "I'll help you get rid of the trash after I make sure she's comfortable inside the house."

  Freddie shook his head and put a hand to Sawyer's back, urging him away, "Don't worry, I'll take care of this." He turned and rested his rifle against a stall as he strode to Walker's corpse. He winked at Sawyer and smiled as he grabbed the ankles and said, "I know how much you hate shoveling.”

  Chapter twenty-seven

  Hours later, Lillian adjusted the material around her neck. "You know, I've really begun to loath slings, Sawyer," she frowned, "almost as much as I hate parsnips."

  Sawyer kissed her lips and teased, "At least this time you won't have to wear it as long, only a week or two and you can burn it. Although, with as often as you've been hurting that arm of yours..."

  "Very funny," She muttered, biting back a smile, "Paul and Kitty are sleeping?"

  He yawned and sat down on the bed, "Yes, I checked on them after showing Doc out." He stretched out next to her and crossed his ankles, "I don't know if he'll ever forgive me for draggin' his fanny out of bed so late at night." Sighing, he stretched his arms out over his head, "He sure is getting' ornery in his old age."

  Lillian laughed, "You did pull your gun on him. If it had been you in his place, you'd be angry too."

  Sawyer turned on his side and trailed his fingers against the back of her hand. "He wasn't moving fast enough for my likin'," He mumbled crossly, "and despite how he irritates me, he should've known I wouldn't shoot him."

  She rolled to face him. "I am sorry for not telling you—" she swallowed, reaching up to touch his lips with her fingers, "I could have stopped all of this from happening if I had told you."

  Sawyer sighed, remember back to just hours ago when after he'd brought her in from the barn, one of the first things she'd confessed was that of Walker approaching her in town two weeks before Sawyer left on the cattle drive.

  To say he was stunned speechless was an understatement. After helping Lillian change out of her ruined and soiled clothing, he quietly made sure she was comfortable, then gave her quick kiss, and left with the excuse of going to get Doc.

  The cold night air did little to clear his mind as he walked to where Freddie was digging the grave. Not wanting his friend to see his distress, Sawyer stopped and stared at the sky; taking a deep breath to calm the hurt and anger churning in his gut.

  She'd known Walker was alive and nearby and she hadn't told him. Why? Why did she find it so hard to trust him? Did she still not understand how much he loved her?

  What else could he do to earn her trust, to get her to stop keeping important things from him? If not for John's conversation he overheard, he'd never have known—not until it was too late.

  She would have been killed, possibly even the children, and there would have been nothing he could have done about it. The image of coming home to such a scene nearly dropped him to his knees in anguish.

  Taking a deep breath, Sawyer walked to Freddie, "I'm gonna go get Doc so he can fix Lily up before I bring the kids home."

  Freddie studied Sawyer for a quiet moment, "You alright?"

  Sawyer clenched his jaw and scratched his head, "I'm tryin' to be." Pushing aside his disquiet, he grabbed Freddie by the shoulder, "Thank you."

  Freddie gave a lopsided shrug, "We're family. You'd do it for me."

  "All the same...thank you."

  "You're welcome," Freddie said, patting Sawyer on the shoulder, "Now go wake up Doc."

  Sawyer nodded, jogged over to the wagon, and had it racing down the lane by the time Freddie rolled Walker's corpse into the freshly dug grave.

  If he were honest, he'd admit he'd thoroughly enjoyed rousing Doc several minutes later. The older man's front door was unlocked, practically begging Sawyer to walk in and surprise him. "Wakey, wakey, Doc."

  Doc sat up in alarm, "What in the blazes-" he fumbled for his spectacles and glared at Sawye
r once they sat firmly on his nose. "What are you doing here?"

  "Lillian's hurt, I'd like you to go take a look and patch her up."

  Doc frowned, "Aren't you supposed to be on a cattle drive?"

  Seeing some motivation was needed, Sawyer drew his empty gun and waved it between Doc and the door. "Yes. Now go check on Lillian while I go collect my children from my sister."

  Grumbling his displeasure, Doc threw the covers aside and dressed. "I hope you know I'll be expecting an apology in the morning."

  "That doesn't surprise me," Sawyer murmured, holstering his useless weapon. He followed Doc out and waited until the older man climbed up into his buggy and drove away before getting into his wagon and heading to Charlie's.

  The short drive found Sawyer once again mulling over the events of the evening. He tried to ignore the hurt and focus on the upcoming reunion with Paul and Kitty, but it gnawed at him until he feared he'd be sick. He wouldn't be surprised if the stress he'd suffered in the last four weeks took ten years off his life.

  Entering Freddie and Charlie's home, Sawyer called out, "PAUL, KITTY? WHERE ARE YA?"

  Suddenly, there was a commotion upstairs that filled the emptiness in his chest left from Lillian's distrust as they dashed down the hall to the stairs where he waited at the bottom.

  Only making down half the stairs, both Kitty and Paul launched themselves into his waiting arms and cried, "PAPA."

  Sawyer clutched them to his chest and kissed their faces, "Shouldn't you two be in bed?" he teased brokenly. His throat tightened with emotion as he looked at them, "Let's go say goodnight to Charlie then head home. Doc's seeing to your Mama right now, and I know she's eager to see the two of you."

  Paul pulled back, his mouth trembling when he asked, "Is she alright? Did that bad man—did he..."

  Sawyer smiled, "We arrived just in time thanks to you. That bad man won't be hurting you or your Mama ever again; you have my word."